Video 5:03
Intervention Future

Transcript

LOUISA REBGETZ, PRESENTER: Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin toured the Arnhem Land communities of Maningrida, Ngukurr and Groote Island this week. The visits were part of a program of consultations designed to find out what Aboriginal people in communities, taken over as part of the Northern Territory Emergency Response, want to see happen next with the Intervention.

LOUISA REBGETZ: The Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister, Jenny Macklin, touched down in Maningrida on the first leg of a two-day whirlwind tour of some of the largest Arnhem Land communities. She's come to the Top End to ask people what they think about the Northern Territory Intervention.

JENNY MACKLIN, IDIGENOUS AFFAIRS MINISTER: It's very important that we not only come to Maningrida but go to many other communities in the Northern Territory and listen to people's priorities.

LOUISA REBGETZ: And in Maningrida locals were keen to deliver their message - the Intervention has failed to deliver.

REGGIE WURRUDJAL, MANINGRIDA TRADITIONAL OWNER: The intervention so far over the past five years now, and I haven't seen anything done. It should be scrapped altogether.

HELEN WILLIAMS, MANINGRIDA RESIDENT: I just want it wiped out - all these signs because it makes us really embarrassed.

LOUISA REBGETZ: Kicking off her tour with some good news, the Minister visited one of the 47 new houses built so far in Maningrida under the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program known as SIHIP. The mood changed when locals were given the opportunity to talk, a lack of basic services and infrastructure is a major concern. Many people had travelled in from homelands which are facing a questionable future when Commonwealth funding runs out next year. The Northern Territory Government is pouring its money into the 20 larger communities. The Territory Indigenous affairs Minister, Malarndirri McCarthy, says the Federal Government needs to kick in.

MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY, NT MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT: I'm very much saying to the Commonwealth Government you want to build a strong future for the people of the Northern Territory, outstations are very much a part of that strong future.

LOUISA REBGETZ: When the Intervention rolled out in 2007 Indigenous communities were compulsory acquired under five year whole of township leases. They expire next year. The Federal Government wants traditional owners to sign new leases for up to 99 years arguing this will ensure security of tenure for economic development. But Reggie Wurrudjal the traditional owner of Maningrida is concerned that by signing he'll be handing over decision making to a government-controlled body.

REGGIE WURRUDJAL, MANINGRIDA TRADITIONAL OWNER: I'll have no power whatsoever. I'll have no input to my community and you know it's just you know, I am just losing my land you know.

LOUISA REBGETZ: In Ngukkur there's concern about how the Commonwealth is paying rent for these leases. The rent money comes out of the Aborginals Benefit Account which is cash from mining royalties to be used for Aboriginal people. Ngukkur lies on the banks of the Roper River. Like many Top End communities it gets cut off for almost half the year.

DAVID DANIELS, NGUKURR TRADITIONAL OWNER: Housing and health. Health is so rubbish, housing and health are the most important things.

LOUISA REBGETZ: On Groote Eylandt senior elders gather and talk sadly about a future lost generation. Getting children to school is the most pressing concern. The elders say young parents have replaced alcohol abuse with gambling and marajuana or gunja additions.

LESLEY WULLAWILYA, UMBAKUMBA RESIDENT: They don't think about the children they are spending money their own way like gunja and the gambling.

LOUISA REBGETZ: The Minister's visit has confirmed there's still a long way to go in fixing the problems in these communities.

REGGIE WURRUDJAL, MANINGRIDA TRADITIONAL OWNER: We had a lot of things to put our concerns to the Minister and a lot of people has raised a lot of issues in regards to all of this, if the Government is talking about closing the gap.